Hastings

Hastings' population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 90,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Hastings increased by 6.1%, from just over 85,000 to 90,300.

The addition of just over 5,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Hastings was home to, on average, 22 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Hastings

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Hastings increased by two years, from 39 to 41 years.

This urban area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 2,800 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 12% of people in Hastings are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Hastings by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer married people

Hastings saw the South East's largest fall in the proportion of married people.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (40%) people aged 16 and over in Hastings said they were married, compared with 46% in 2001. The percentage that said they were single increased from 30% to 37%.

Across the region, Medway saw the next largest decrease in the proportion of married people (from 52% in 2001 to 46% in 2011).

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

Hastings saw the South East's joint second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children, alongside Fareham.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in Hastings had at least one dependent child, compared with 29% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 65% to 66%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Hastings

The number of people in Hastings that described themselves as having no religion increased from just over 18,000 in 2001 to just over 33,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 21% to 37% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Hastings that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 57,000 in 2001 to about 47,000 in 2011 (from 67% to 52%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just under 7,900 to just under 7,500 (from 9.3% to 8.3%).

About 1,200 people (0.8%) said they were Muslim, up from about 640 in 2001 (1.3%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Hastings increased by 15 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Hastings by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Hastings that rented privately increased from 19% to 29% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of Hastings households that owned their home decreased from 63% to 55%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10% in 2001 to 16% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Hastings increased by 9.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Hastings, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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Area report data

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